Be a Founding Leader in a New Métis and Indigenous-Focused Childcare Centre!
Métis Family Services, in partnership with MNBC, is excited to launch a brand-new childcare centre at Chuck Bailey Recreation Centre in Surrey, BC, one that is deeply rooted in Métis and Indigenous culture, values, and community. We’re looking for a passionate and experienced Childcare Manager to lead this important initiative and help shape a nurturing, culturally safe, and trauma-informed environment for children and families.
This is a unique opportunity to put your mark on something meaningful from the very beginning. As the Childcare Manager, you’ll play a central role in:
- Defining the vision and programming of the centre, with a strong emphasis on Métis and Indigenous culture and community.
- Developing and implementing policies and procedures that reflect cultural safety and trauma-informed practices.
- Building and leading a dedicated team, including hiring, mentoring, and supporting Early Childhood Educators and Assistants.
- Overseeing day-to-day operations, including licensing, compliance, facility management, and program delivery.
- Managing business operations, including budgeting, staffing plans, and human resources.
Reports to: You’ll report to the Senior Manager of Early Years and Childcare and the Director of Programs and Practice, Child and Family Development, and work closely with the community to ensure the centre is a welcoming, inclusive, and enriching space for all.
Key Duties and Responsibilities
The Childcare Manager will ensure the smooth, culturally grounded operation of the Chuck Bailey Childcare Centre, in alignment with Métis Family Services (MFS), MNBC, MCFD and Fraser Health policies.
1. Centre Operations
- Lead daily operations with a trauma-informed, culturally safe approach.
- Ensure compliance with all municipal, provincial, and federal regulations.
- Build relationships with local childcare and family service agencies.
- Oversee registration, waitlists, and family communications.
- Maintain security, licensing, and health/safety standards.
- Support online presence and respond to community feedback.
- Step in as an ECE when needed and connect families to support services.
- Manage supplies and procurement.
2. Staff Leadership
- Recruit, train, and supervise ECEs and Assistants.
- Set performance expectations and manage evaluations, training, and discipline.
- Oversee scheduling, payroll, and staff well-being.
- Support practicum students and foster a positive team culture.
- Ensure compliance with the Indigenous Services Collective Agreement and Community Care Facility Act.
3. Financial Management
- Develop and manage the annual budget with leadership support.
- Monitor cash flow, expenditures, and internal financial controls.
- Oversee family fee systems and ensure PCI compliance.
- Support financial reporting and cost assessments.
4. Community & Collaboration
- Build strong partnerships with community organizations and funders.
- Lead team meetings and contribute to leadership initiatives.
- Ensure program delivery meets funding requirements.
- Communicate effectively with families, staff, and stakeholders.
- Maintain client confidentiality and provide regular reports to leadership.
Qualifications, Education and Experience:
- Basic Early Childhood Education Certificate and a license to practice from the B.C. Early Childhood Educator Registry, Infant Toddler and Special Needs certification required.
- Five (5) years of recent related experience, managing a childcare facility or a combination of relevant experience.
- A valid Childcare First Aid Certificate.
- Strong working knowledge of child development and childcare programming, related legislation (the Community Care Facilities Act), regulations and policies related to childcare in BC.
- Working knowledge of BC Early Learning Framework (ELF), Indigenous Early Learning Framework (IEFL) and Métis Early Learning and Childcare Framework.
- Working knowledge of case management principles and practices: file documentation, security, confidentiality, mandatory reporting controls, screening procedures, and trauma-informed approaches.
- Working knowledge of pedagogical narration.
- Working knowledge and experience including children with support needs to fully participate in early learning programs and activities.
- Demonstrated knowledge of Métis and Indigenous history, cultural practices, traditions, teachings, stories, language, traditional foods & medicines, and experiences particular to Métis people across Canada.
- Knowledge and experience in budgeting, cost estimating and fiscal management principles and procedures.
- Knowledge of the Child, Family & Community Services Act, specifically section 13 child protection concerns.
- Computer knowledge and the ability to use Microsoft office suite.
Other Requirements:
- Required to use own vehicle. Valid Class 5 Driver’s License, Driver’s Abstract and a reliable and safe vehicle.
- Subject to a positive reference check.
- Successful completion of security screening requirements of Métis Family Services, which includes a criminal records check, and/or Criminal Records Review Act (CRRA) check, police record checks, enhanced security screening and degree verification.
- Satisfactory proof of legal authorization to work in Canada
Core Competencies:
Indigenous Relations Behavioural Competencies
- Cultural Agility is the ability to work respectfully, knowledgeably, and effectively with Indigenous people. It is noticing and readily adapting to cultural uniqueness in order to create a sense of safety for all. It is openness to unfamiliar experiences, transforming feelings of nervousness or anxiety into curiosity and appreciation. It is examining one's own culture and worldview, and the culture of Métis Family Services, and to notice their commonalities, and distinctions with Indigenous cultures, and worldviews. It is recognition of the ways that personal and professional values may conflict or align with those of Indigenous people. It is the capacity to relate to or allow for differing cultural perspectives and being willing to experience a personal shift in perspective. Effectively to other people from diverse backgrounds with diverse views.
Behavioural Competencies
- Results Driven concern for surpassing a standard of excellence. The standard may be one’s own past performance (striving for improvement); an objective measure (achievement orientation); challenging goals that one has set; or even improving or surpassing what has already been done (continuous improvement).
- Teamwork and Co-operation is the ability to work co-operatively with diverse teams, work groups, and across the organization to achieve group and organizational goals. It includes the desire and ability to understand and respond effectively to other people from diverse backgrounds with diverse views.
- Service Orientation implies a desire to identify and serve customers/clients, who may include the public, co-workers, other branches, other ministries/agencies, other government organizations, and non-government organizations. It means focusing one's efforts on discovering and meeting the needs of the customer/client.
- Seeking and Using Feedback involves recognizing that improving performance and authenticity can occur through a reciprocal relationship. This requires an acknowledgement that here is an opportunity for mutual learning and development and levels the field in what is brought to supervision. Reciprocal learning can require active listening and modeling personal change in order to foster trust.
- Decisive Insight combines the ability to draw on one’s own experience, knowledge and training and effectively problem-solve increasingly difficult and complex situations. It involves breaking down problems, tracing implications and recognizing patterns and connections that are not obviously related.
- Reflective Practice is the ability to critically assess how one’s values, beliefs, ethics and culture influence decisions and relationships. An ability to demonstrate exemplary behaviour and curiosity regarding the perspectives of others, results in appropriate boundaries and insightful practice.
- Responsive Learning is facilitated through multiple approaches to encourage a deepening and expanding of skill sets with a view to continuing to build expertise that result in improved individual and organization outcomes.
- Information Seeking implies going beyond the questions that are routine or required in the job. It may include “digging” or pressing for exact information; resolution of discrepancies by asking a series of questions; or less-focused environmental “scanning” for potential opportunities or miscellaneous information that may be of future use.
- Planning, Organizing and Co-ordinating involves proactively planning, establishing priorities, and allocating resources. It is expressed by developing and implementing increasingly complex plans. It also involves monitoring and adjusting work to accomplish goals and deliver to the organization's mandate.
- Conflict Management (Reduces and Resolves Conflict in a Proactive Manner) involves working to resolve conflict when the conflict directly impacts on achievement of work objectives. Anticipates and acts to mitigate/reduce potential conflict management and to reduce and resolve conflict at the outset, by encouraging continued. Open, two–way communications.
- Handling crisis involves effectively managing risks and crises and handling public relations.
Wages: Step 1: $32.50 – Step 4: $36.00 per hour, plus Wage Enhancement of $ 4–$6/hour (contingent on funding availability). New hires will start at Step 1 of the wage range.
This is a non-union management position.
Benefits:
- Extended Health
- Dental
- Paid vacation (15 days inclusive of holiday closure)
- 100% paid family benefits
- Municipal Pension Plan
- Cultural training and learning opportunities
- Staffing hours are between 7:00 am and 6:00 pm
- Circle of Security Classroom Training
- Cultural training and learning opportunities
Hours: Monday - Friday 8:30 - 4:00 PM (35 hours/week during staffing hours)
Start date: As soon as possible.
Please apply for this position from our website at the following link
https://www.metisfamilyservices.ca/mfs/join-us/employment/
Métis Family Services thanks all applicants for their interest in this career opportunity; however, only those considered for the position will be contacted. No telephone inquiries please.
Pay: From $32.50 per hour
Benefits:
- Company events
- Company pension
- Dental care
- Employee assistance program
- Extended health care
- Flexible schedule
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision care
Work Location: In person
